DOCSLIB.ORG

The Lisbon Treaty and Spain: Background, Context and Impact

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Lisbon Treaty and Spain: Background, Context and Impact Robert Schuman Miami-Florida European Union Center of Excellence The Lisbon Treaty and Spain: Background, Context and Impact Joaquín Roy Special Issue 1 August 2012 Published with the support of the European Commission 1 The Jean Monnet/Robert Schuman Paper Series The Jean Monnet/Robert Schuman Paper Series is produced by the Jean Monnet Chair of the University of Miami, in cooperation with the Miami-Florida European Union Center of Excellence, a partnership with Florida International University (FIU). These monographic papers analyze ongoing developments within the European Union as well as recent trends which influence the EU’s relationship with the rest of the world. Broad themes include, but are not limited to: The collapse of the Constitution and its rescue by the Lisbon Treaty The Euro zone crisis Immigration and cultural challenges Security threats and responses The EU’s neighbor policy The EU and Latin America The EU as a model and reference in the world Relations with the United States These topics form part of the pressing agenda of the EU and represent the multifaceted and complex nature of the European integration process. These papers also seek to highlight the internal and external dynamics which influence the workings of the EU and its relationship with the rest the world. Miami - Florida European Union Center Jean Monnet Chair Staff University of Miami Joaquín Roy (Director) 1000 Memorial Drive Astrid Boening (Research Associate) 101 Ferré Building María Lorca (Research Associate) Coral Gables, FL 33124-2231 Maxime Larivé (Research Associate) Phone: 305-284-3266 Beverly Barrett (Associate Editor) Fax: (305) 284 4406 Alfonso Camiñas-Muiña (Assistant Editor) Web: www.miami.edu/eucenter Dina Moulioukova (Research Assistant) Florida International University Rebecca Friedman (FIU, Co-Director) Inter-American Jean Monnet Chair Editorial Board: Paula All, Universidad del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina Carlos Hakansson, Universidad de Piura, Perú Finn Laursen, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada Fernando Laiseca, ECSA Latinoamérica Michel Levi-Coral, Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar, Quito, Ecuador Félix Peña, Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero, Buenos Aires, Argentina Lorena Ruano, CIDE, Mexico Eric Tremolada, Universidad del Externado de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia International Editorial Advisors: Federiga Bindi, University Tor Vergata, Rome Blanca Vilà, Autonomous University of Barcelona Francesc Granell, University of Barcelona, Spain 2 The Lisbon Treaty and Spain: Background, Context and Impact Joaquín Roy University of Miami Abstract The year 2010 will be remembered in the European Union (EU) circles of governmental Spain as a crucial milestone regarding the role of the country in one of the most important alliances of world history. During the first semester, from January to June 2010, Spain had previously been scheduled to hold the rotating presidency as done since the times of the inception of the predecessor of the EU, the European Economic Community (EEC). Furthermore, on June 12, Spain would be ready to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its adhesion (along with Portugal) to the European integration experiment, by signing the treaty, effectively acceding to the European Community (EC) on January 1, 1986. While all of this was set to occur, the new Reform Treaty (“of Lisbon”) was set to be implemented as a substitute for the failed constitutional text floated during the first years of the new century. Moreover, these spectacular events unraveled in the middle of one of the worst economic crises of the world, with considerable impact on the evolution of the EU and, most especially, Spain. This paper will review the background, context and impact of particular novel aspects of the new treaty governing the EU and several milestones regarding the experience of Spain in the European process. Paper presented at the EUCE Conference on the Treaty of Lisbon, organized by the EU Center of Excellence and Jean Monnet Chair at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, on June 7-8, 2010. Gratitude for the generous invitation is due to Finn Laursen. For the elaboration of the text a handful of Spanish government officials and EU staff members have provided commentaries and data, as well as access to EU events. All elected to remain anonymous. Francesc Granell offered perceptive comments on the latest draft. All errors in analysis are only attributed to the author. Bibliographical adjustments, editing and technical assistance were provided by James Aggrey, Adam Biaccia, Astrid Boening, and Maxime Larivé. 3 I Rescuing the EU Constitution1 1. Spain at the Helm 2007 was considered to be a decisive year for the EU for the coincidental reason that fifty years earlier the EU took its second daring step with the approval of the Rome Treaty of March 1957. This decision complemented the initial European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), officially born in 1951, by incorporating the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (EUROATOM). The EU was in more recent times considerably strengthened by two bold moves. First, during the negotiations of the Maastricht Treaty in 1992, the EU decided to adopt the euro as a common currency. The impasse of the constitutional process marked its presence five years after the effective adoption of the euro by 300 million citizens in thirteen countries of the EU, as well as a handful of mini-states that had previously used the currencies of the EU Member States. The euro has been a success in all basic monetary operations.2 Second, since the end of the Cold War in 1998, the EU proceeded to execute the most spectacular broadening in its history-nearly doubling in population and size.3 However, the need for institutional reform of an organization used to dealing through fifteen collegial Member States had to be addressed. The EU then proceeded to complete its legal framework with the approval of a “constitutional treaty.” Unfortunately, the planned constitution was derailed halfway through the ratification process with the rejection by Dutch and French voters. With the project put on hold, alternative plans were considered. The EU was seen as a ship running into an iceberg, much like the Titanic. An alternative to the rescuing plans was the preservation of the basic load of the failed ship, combined with the method of selecting most special aspects of the EU text. Within this context presented by the shocking rejection of the EU constitutional treaty in 2005, Spain considered several options and scenarios; each implied risks and opportunities in the rescuing of the spirit of the original text. More than anything else, Spain wanted to show the same loyal commitment as performed since 1986. Spain had ceased a long time ago to walk alone in both Europe and the world. Since then all sectors had embraced the trend-setting 1 This part of the essay draws on the logic, content and scope from a previous work (Roy 2008). 2 For a review of the performance of the euro, see Lorca 2007, and 2009. 3 For a comprehensive collection of essays on the enlargement, see Joaquín Roy and Roberto Domínguez, eds., 2006. From a Spanish perspective, see Barbé/Johansson 2003 and Torreblanca 2001. 4 lecturing of philosopher José Ortega y Gasset: “Spain is the problem; Europe is the solution.” Development and democracy meant to be inserted in Europe. From all angles of analysis, the balance of this obsession has been positive. The record of Spain’s membership in the European Union has been truly impressive.4 History shows that even during the second part of the Franco regime, the Spanish dictatorial leadership tried to cope with requirements that were politically impossible to meet. When Spain became a member of the EC, numerous experts and scholars were ready to join the effort and strengthen the resources available in Spanish universities and publishing networks.5 Simultaneously, the best and the brightest of Spain’s governmental cadres joined the expanded institutions, taking on positions of responsibility in decision-making bodies (Viñas 2006; Granell 2002). Spain, in sum, “was not different.” as a redrafting of a popular tourism slogan crafted by the Franco regime would say. It was a European country like any other that was returning to its natural home after a long exile. In the background of successful EU Spanish presidencies, prominent Spaniards had chaired the EU institutions. 6 When the process of drafting the Constitutional Treaty was announced, Spain embraced the mission, rather than regarding it as a standard duty. Spain, in turn, received considerable benefits through funds of regional policies, development aid, and financing of infrastructure. From an index of 60 percent of the European median in 1986, today Spain’s income is in the range of 105 percent, with some regions surpassing 125 percent. From being a country that was a net receiver of aid, Spain is today a net payer, with traditional funds vanishing, resulting in the considerable alarm of public works officers in the middle of the current crisis.7 The successive PSOE governments from 1982 to 1996 distinguished themselves in building fruitful alliances with the influential European partners, specially the Franco-German duo. In 1996, when the Popular Party, led by José María Aznar, won the elections, Spain’s European commitment was maintained. Spain was early in the lead of the constitutional project. However, as a result of the events of September 11, the government decided to change its loyalty for a Euro-Atlantic alternative. Madrid elected to join the so-called “new Europe,” disdainful of the “old Europe,” following the terminology coined the U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. The change of government in 2004 turned the setting to the traditional way of priming 4 For a selection of classic and recent books on the insertion of Spain in the EU, see: De la Cruz, Closa/Heywood, Moreno Juste, Gillespie/Youngs, Barbé 1999, Crespo, Jones.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • European Union Constitution and Its Effects on Federalism in the EU
    The European Union Constitution and its Effects on Federalism in the EU NICHOLAS P. ZALANY* Since its unveiling in May 2003 and approval by the Intergovernmental Conference in June 2004, the European Union Constitution has sparked intense debate. If ratified by Member States, the Constitution will inaugurate a new era in the distribution of power between the EU institutions and Member State governments. This Note will examine the Constitution in the historicalcontext of EU integrationand examine how its changes vis-6-vis current EU governing treaties affect federalism in the EU. It will be shown that any decline in Member State sovereignty that may resultfrom certainprovisions of the Constitution is justifiable in light of the needs to streamline the functioning of the EU in the wake of enlargement and to ensure greater coordination in the areas of common foreign and security policy andjustice and home affairs. I. INTRODUCTION The future of the European Union (EU) stands to be shaped in a profound manner by the EU Constitution agreed to by European heads of state on June 18, 2004.1 This document represents the culmination of the most ambitious reorganization in the EU's half-century of existence. 2 While the Constitution has met with criticism,3 European heads of state and the framers of the Constitution recognized the need for the EU to codify the series of overlapping and often opaque treaties that have governed the EU over the course of its history.4 In addition to rendering pre-existing treaties more coherent and accessible to ordinary Europeans, the Constitution introduces many new measures designed to enhance the functioning of the EU institutions in the wake of enlargement from fifteen to twenty-five * B.A., Case Western Reserve University, 2002.
    [Show full text]
  • The Development of the Eu's Counter Terrorism Policies in the Post 9/11 Era
    City University of New York (CUNY) CUNY Academic Works All Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects 9-2015 The Development Of The Eu's Counter Terrorism Policies In The Post 9/11 Era Sinem Cevik Graduate Center, City University of New York How does access to this work benefit ou?y Let us know! More information about this work at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/882 Discover additional works at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu This work is made publicly available by the City University of New York (CUNY). Contact: [email protected] THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE EU’S COUNTER TERRORISM POLICIES IN THE POST 9/11 ERA by SİNEM ÇEVİK A master’s thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty in Liberal Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts, The City University of New York 2015 ©2015 SİNEM ÇEVİK All Rights Reserved ii This manuscript has been read and accepted for the Graduate Faculty in Political Science in satisfaction of the dissertation requirement of the degree of Master ofArts. Dr.Anna Akasoy ___________________________________ _______________________ ____________________________________ Date Thesis Advisor Dr. Matthew Gold ___________________________________ _______________________ ____________________________________ Date Executive Officer THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK iii Abstract THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE EU’S COUNTER TERRORISM POLICIES IN THE POST 9/11 ERA by: Sinem Çevik Adviser: Professor Anna Akasoy European security is shaped by major events. In this perspective, the attacks of 9/11 and the bombings which took place in Madrid and London are marked as turning points in the EU’s counter terrorism history.
    [Show full text]
  • Europe and Europeans 1950-2020. 70Th Anniversary of the Schuman Declaration Itinerary for Interpreting the Exhibition: “De Facto Solidarity”
    Europe and Europeans 1950-2020. 70th Anniversary of the Schuman Declaration Itinerary for Interpreting the Exhibition: “De Facto Solidarity” Foreword Solidarity has always been an important element in the European integration process; it is a term that has characterised it from the outset. We find it already in the first attempts at cohesion between European countries, as a guiding principle for cooperation and as part of the legal framework of European integration. In this context, Robert Schuman wrote in his declaration: "Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan. It will be built through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity”. It is interesting to reflect on the concept of “de facto solidarity” because in its development, there is implicated the dynamics and the attitudes which promote a constant collaboration, which matures and grows over time. It is possible to see how in diverse areas of European policies, regional policy, asylum, cooperation in development or in the Economic and Monetary Union itself, the principle of solidarity is constantly evoked when the existing law has to be interpreted or further elaborated. “de facto solidarity”, in the framework of the Schuman declaration – did not in itself imply a treaty but contained the significance of a common agreement, which was binding for the countries who wanted to become part (“The setting up of this powerful productive unit, open to all countries willing to take part”). With the Treaty of Lisbon, this principle received even greater prominence. Different dimensions of solidarity in terms of common objectives can be identified [Title 1, art.
    [Show full text]
  • The Founding Fathers of the EU the European Union Explained
    THE EUROPEAN UNION EXPLAINED The founding fathers of the EU THE EUROPEAN UNION EXPLAINED This publication is a part of a series that explains what the EU does in different policy areas, why the EU is involved and what the results are. You can see online which ones are available and download them at: http://europa.eu/pol/index_en.htm How the EU works Europe 2020: Europe’s growth strategy The founding fathers of the EU Agriculture Borders and security Budget Climate action Competition Consumers Culture and audiovisual The European Union explained: Customs The founding fathers of the EU Development and cooperation Digital agenda European Commission Economic and monetary union and the euro Directorate-General for Communication Education, training, youth and sport Publications Employment and social affairs 1049 Brussels Energy BELGIUM Enlargement Enterprise Manuscript completed in May 2012 Environment Fight against fraud Photos on cover and page 2: © EU 2013- Corbis Fisheries and maritime affairs Food safety 2013 — pp. 28 — 21 x 29.7 cm Foreign affairs and and security policy ISBN 978-92-79-28695-7 Humanitarian aid doi:10.2775/98747 Internal market Justice, citizenship, fundamental rights Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, Migration and asylum 2013 Public health Regional policy © European Union, 2013 Research and innovation Reproduction is authorised. For any use or reproduction Taxation of individual photos, permission must be sought directly Trade from the copyright holders. Transport THE founding fathers OF THE EU The founding fathers of the EU Over half a century ago a number of visionary fathers were a diverse group of people who held leaders inspired the creation of the European the same ideals: a peaceful, united and Union we live in today.
    [Show full text]
  • Of Treaties, Conventions and Habits: How Informal Integration Interacts
    Of treaties, conventions and habits: how informal integration interacts with formal integration LSE Research Online URL for this paper: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/100904/ Version: Accepted Version Book Section: Ludlow, N. Piers (2019) Of treaties, conventions and habits: how informal integration interacts with formal integration. In: van Heumen, Lennaert and Roos, Mechthild, (eds.) The Informal Construction of Europe. Routledge/UACES Contemporary European Studies. Routledge, Abingdon, UK, pp. 40-54. ISBN 9780815351450 Reuse Items deposited in LSE Research Online are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved unless indicated otherwise. They may be downloaded and/or printed for private study, or other acts as permitted by national copyright laws. The publisher or other rights holders may allow further reproduction and re-use of the full text version. This is indicated by the licence information on the LSE Research Online record for the item. [email protected] https://eprints.lse.ac.uk/ Of Treaties, Conventions and Habits: How informal integration interacts with formal integration Almost exactly sixty years ago, on March 25 1957, the signing ceremony of the Treaty of Rome took place, amid the pouring rain, on the Capidoglio in Rome. According to one senior Italian negotiator, however, there was an aspect of the ceremony that was not quite as it seemed. In his memoirs, Roberto Ducci, recalls that the plan had been for all six foreign ministers to append their signature on a large leather-bound text of the Treaty in the French version only. A week or so before the ceremony, however, the German government contacted the Italian government to request that a German version of the Treaty also be signed.
    [Show full text]
  • September 2007
    EU-25/27 WATCH No. 5 ISSN 1610-6458 Issued in September 2007 Edited by the Institute for European Politics (IEP), Berlin in collaboration with the Austrian Institute of International Affairs, Vienna Groupe d’Etudes Politiques Européennes, Brussels Bulgarian European Community Studies Association, Institute for International Relations, Zagreb Sofia Institute for World Economics of the Hungarian Center for European Studies / Middle East Technical Academy of Sciences, Budapest University, Ankara Institute for Strategic and International Studies, Centre européen de Sciences Po, Paris Lisbon Centre d’Etudes et de Recherches Européennes Institute of European Affairs, Dublin Robert Schuman, Luxembourg Institute of International Relations, Prague Centre of International Relations, Ljubljana Institute of International Relations and Political Cyprus Institute for Mediterranean, European and Science, Vilnius University International Studies, Nicosia Istituto Affari Internazionali, Rome Danish Institute for International Studies, Latvian Institute of International Affairs, Copenhagen Riga Elcano Royal Institute and UNED University, Madrid Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies, EuroCollege, University of Tartu University of Malta European Institute of Romania, Bucharest Netherlands Institute of International Relations Federal Trust for Education and Research, London ‘Clingendael’, The Hague Finnish Institute of International Affairs, Helsinki Slovak Foreign Policy Association, Bratislava Foundation for European Studies, European Institute, Swedish
    [Show full text]
  • Robert Schuman
    Robert Schuman: the architect of the European integration project The statesman Robert Schuman, a qualified lawyer and French foreign minister between 1948 and 1952, is regarded as one of the founding fathers of European unity. Schuman was born in Luxembourg and was influenced by his background in the French-German border region. Despite, or maybe as a result of his experiences in Nazi Germany, he recognised that only a lasting reconciliation with Germany could form the basis for a united Europe. Deported to Germany in 1940, he joined the French Resistance upon fleeing two years later. In spite of this, he showed no resentment when, following the war, he became foreign minister. In cooperation with Jean Monnet he drew up the internationally renowned Schuman Plan, © European Union © European which he published on 9 May 1950, the date now regarded as the birth of the Robert Schuman 1886 - 1963 European Union. He proposed joint control of coal and steel production, the most important materials for the armaments industry. The basic idea was that whoever did not have control over coal and steel production would not be able to fight a war. Schuman informed the German chancellor Adenauer of the plan, who immediately recognised the opportunity for a peaceful Europe and agreed. Shortly afterwards, the governments of Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands also reacted. The six states signed the agreement for the European Coal and Steel Community in Paris in April 1951. In this way, Europe began as a peace initiative. Schuman also supported the formation of a common European defence policy, and held the post of President of the European Parliament from 1958 to 1960.
    [Show full text]
  • Schuman 2.0: a New Momentum for Europe» Was Funded with the Support of the European Union Under the Programme "Europe for Citizens"
    The project «Schuman 2.0: A new momentum for Europe» was funded with the support of the European Union under the Programme "Europe for Citizens" Applicable to the Strand 2 – Measure 2.2 "Networks of Towns" Measure 2.3 "Civil Society Projects" Strand 1 – "European Rememberance"” Short description: To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, the project “Schuman 2.0 – A new Momentum for Europe” engaged citizens, activists from civil society organizations (hereinafter, CSOs) and universities to: 1. Reflect on the Schuman Declaration, remembering the historical roots of the European project U to understand it funding values and innovative character; 2. Look back at the early days of the history of European integration as inspiration to renew the foundations of EU unity; 3. Develop “new declarations” for the future of Europe, as a way of participating in the reflection on reshaping EU mission and structure in the years to come to complete the project launched by Schuman. As per workplan, the project focused in particular on citizens from all social and economic backgrounds from cities normally left outside the European debates that take place in capitals. Firstly, through an Ambassadors’ Training held in Brussels on 14-15 December 2019 we gathered 40 young people from 22 countries interested to become Ambassadors for the project, act as multipliers of the project communication material and act as facilitators during the local events. The young Ambassadors learned about the Schuman declaration and its historical and political context, how to co-organise local events, how to facilitate activities involving participants from different backgrounds and nationalities.
    [Show full text]
  • A New Roadmap for Europe's Regions and Cities
    2742-brochureEN 6/5/07 4:04 PM Page A A new roadmap for Europe's regions and cities EUROPEAN UNION Comittee of the Regions REGIONE LAZIO 2742-brochureEN 6/5/07 4:05 PM Page II Complesso Monumentale di Santo Spirito – venue for the meeting of the CoR Bureau and political groups 2742-brochureEN 6/5/07 4:05 PM Page 1 A new roadmap for Europe's regions and cities EUROPEAN UNION Committee of the Regions REGIONE LAZIO 2742-brochureEN 6/5/07 4:06 PM Page 2 A defining moment The 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome was a very special occasion for the Committee of the Regions and, looking back, I sense it may well prove to be a defining moment in the history of our assembly. I think I can speak for all members of the CoR present at the commemoration ceremony and plenary session in Rome on 23 March in saying that we were privileged to participate in a truly unforgettable event. The Auditorium Conciliazione, placed at our disposal by the President of Lazio, Piero Marrazzo, provided a splendid backdrop. And the setting was more than matched by the quality of the contributions by our key-note speakers, who included European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn, German Minister of State for Europe Günter Gloser, Spanish State Secretary for the EU Alberto Navarro, European Economic and Social Committee President Dimitri Dimitriadis, the Mayors of Rome, Warsaw, Istanbul, Stockholm, Luxembourg, Maastricht, Dubrovnik, Wroclaw and Lyon, the regional presidents of Catalonia, Andalusia, Asturias, Tuscany, Sicily, Friuli-Venetia-Giulia, Madeira, Aquitaine, as well as representatives of the European Youth Summit.
    [Show full text]
  • Declaration of 9Th May 1950
    The 9th May Declaration 1950 The 9th May declaration 1950 is considered to be the founding text of European integration. Delivered by Robert Schuman, French Foreign Minister in the Salon de l’Horloge of the Quai d’Orsay in Paris, this declaration inspired by Jean Monnet, the first Commissaire au Plan, suggests the creation of a European organisation that would pool the production capabilities of the French and German coal and steel industries. The text led to the signature of the Paris Treaty on 18th April 1951 which founded the European Community of Steel and Coal between six European States. • Goals of Peace and Prosperity “A united Europe was not achieved and we had war.” (Robert Schuman Declaration, 9th May 1950) Three wars in under a century tore Europe apart leaving in their wake an exhausted continent. On 9th May 1950 Robert Schuman’s policy was driven forward first and foremost by a desire for peace whilst the quotas of coal and steel that Germany was allowed to produce were the subject of diplomatic conflict that were likely to end in further sanctions by the Allies. As of 1948 Europe entered a period of Cold War. The constitution and strengthening of alliances led to two blocs which were increasingly antagonistic towards one another. The Berlin crisis in 1948-49 heralded the first confrontation between the two new giants and Western Europe realised that Europe was in danger of “becoming a small part of the Asian continent” as Paul Valéry had predicted1 The need to come together to withstand the Soviet threat then became increasingly clear: the liberal democracies of Western Europe could not afford to fight and grow mutually weaker whilst in the East behind the “Iron Curtain” popular democracies had joined forces as one at the service of the power of the Soviet Bloc.
    [Show full text]
  • Pedagogy of Peace: the Contribution of Jean Monnet to the Construction of the European Union
    Robert Schuman Pedagogy of Peace: The Contribution of Jean Monnet to the Construction of the European Union Karine de Souza Silva Jean Monnet/Robert Schuman Paper Series Vol. 9 No. 5 March 2009 Published with the support of the EU Commission. The Jean Monnet/Robert Schuman Paper Series The Jean Monnet/Robert Schuman Paper Series is produced by the Jean Monnet Chair of the University of Miami, in cooperation with the Miami‐Florida European Union Center of Excellence, a partnership with Florida International University (FIU). These monographic papers analyze ongoing developments within the European Union as well as recent trends which influence the EU’s relationship with the rest of the world. Broad themes include, but are not limited to: ♦ EU Enlargement ♦ The Evolution of the Constitutional Process ♦ The EU as a Global Player ♦ Comparative Regionalisms ♦ The Trans‐Atlantic Agenda ♦ EU‐Latin American Relations ♦ Economic issues ♦ Governance ♦ The EU and its Citizens ♦ EU Law As the process of European integration evolves further, the Jean Monnet/Robert Schuman Papers is intended to provide current analyses on a wide range of issues relevant to the EU. The overall purpose of the monographic papers is to contribute to a better understanding of the unique nature of the EU and the significance of its role in the world. Miami - Florida European Union Center Jean Monnet Chair Staff University of Miami Joaquín Roy (Director) 1000 Memorial Drive Astrid Boening (Associate Director) 101 Ferré Building María Lorca (Associate Editor) Coral Gables,
    [Show full text]
  • Robert Schuman: the Architect of the European Integration Project
    Robert Schuman: the architect of the European integration project The statesman Robert Schuman, a qualified lawyer and French foreign minister between 1948 and 1952, is regarded as one of the founding fathers of European unity. Schuman was born in Luxembourg and was influenced by his background in the French-German border region. Despite, or maybe as a result of his experiences in Nazi Germany, he recognised that only a lasting reconciliation with Germany could form the basis for a united Europe. Deported to Germany in 1940, he joined the French Resistance upon fleeing two years later. In spite of this, he showed no resentment when, following the war, he became foreign minister. In cooperation with Jean Monnet he drew up the internationally renowned Schuman Plan, © European Union © European which he published on 9 May 1950, the date now regarded as the birth of the Robert Schuman 1886 - 1963 European Union. He proposed joint control of coal and steel production, the most important materials for the armaments industry. The basic idea was that whoever did not have control over coal and steel production would not be able to fight a war. Schuman informed the German chancellor Adenauer of the plan, who immediately recognised the opportunity for a peaceful Europe and agreed. Shortly afterwards, the governments of Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands also reacted. The six states signed the agreement for the European Coal and Steel Community in Paris in April 1951. In this way, Europe began as a peace initiative. Schuman also supported the formation of a common European defence policy, and held the post of President of the European Parliament from 1958 to 1960.
    [Show full text]